The Vipers, now backed by the Chronicle, are looking for their third win of the season against Bracknell at the Telewest Arena (7.15) having beaten the Berkshire club twice in the Findus Cup.

And the second of those victories, a 4-0 win at the Bee Hive, saw Newcastle's Paul Ferone and Rob Trumbley both thrown out of the game and later handed suspensions, with Bees duo JP Soucy and Nathan Rempel only handed minor penalties for their part in a brawl.

Soucy had sparked the trouble when he fired a puck at Ferone's head and there are scores to settle between the players.

But Wilson, who will be without Jason Robinson and Karl Culley, knows first and foremost the Vipers must keep their discipline against a team which he rates as one of the favourites for the British National League.

"I'd probably say they were favourites to win the league," said Wilson. "And it's important for us to forget about the two Findus Cup wins - they are in the past now.

"We're playing a very physical team and Paul Ferone and Rob Trumbley were a big factor in our win down there - they're two tough guys. Fighting is part of the game and part of the reason we have Paul and Rob in our line-up.

"They make sure other teams don't take liberties against us but at the same time it's important we keep our discipline. It's going to be a super-tough game."

Defenceman Robinson is out for three or more weeks after picking up a knee injury in Friday's win over Hull Stingrays, while forward Culley is a shorter-term casualty, having hurt his knee in Sunday's loss at Dundee Stars.

But Wilson will have teenager Michael Allinson back on the bench as cover, while defenceman Ian Defty came through the weekend with no reaction to his knee surgery.

Vipers general manager Clyde Tuyl insists Newcastle's hectic schedule, with the Vipers having had a three-game weekend, will not affect their performance tonight.

Tuyl said: "The guys have two days' rest after the weekend's games and will be ready for the arrival of the Bees.

"The two matches so far with Bracknell have been very intense and we have set up a good rivalry, so it will be easy to motivate the team. Whoever wins the small battles will win the game."

The match is Newcastle's fourth in the league and their last home game before the Findus Cup semi-final tie against Fife Flyers on Sunday, November 16.

Meanwhile, the Vipers have launched a media partnership with the Chronicle, which will see the Findus Cup champions carry the Chronicle masthead on their shorts this season.